Closure device for liquid containers such as paint cans



Dec. 22, 1964 N. T. GRUBELIC CLOSURE DEVICE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS SUCH AS PAINT CANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25. 1962 INVENTOR MCI/0045 GZUBEL/C BY @Q FIG] Dec. 22, 1964 N. T. GRUBELIC 3,162,338

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS SUCH AS PAINT CANS Filed July 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m ilr INVENTOR. MCI/0445 GRUBEL/C 4 T TORI/EM Dec. 22, 1964 N. T. GRUBELIC 3,162,338

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS SUCH AS PAINT CANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 25. 1962 OR. F IG. 8 w/c/mds g uaa/c A 7 ram 5K United States Patent 3,162,338 CLUSURE DEVHIE FUR LlQUlD CONTAKNIERS SUCH AS EAINT CANS Nicholas T. Grubelie, 680 Willis Ave., Williston Park, Long Island, N.Y. Filed .luly 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,380 19 Claims. (Cl. 222-484) This invention relates to a closure device for liquid containers such as paint cans, and more particularly, to a device which may be mounted on the upper open end of a paint can and which will permit the contents of the can to be stirred and dispensed without removing the closure device from the can.

The plain fiat cover provided with the conventional paint can has several disadvantages. In order to dispense paint from the can the cover must first be completely removed by prying the cover oil? from the can body, an operation that is both bothersome and time-consuming, particularly if congealed paint has caused the cover to stick to the can body. This problem is obviated in the present invention which permits the paint to be dispensed from the can without removing the cover from the can body. That is, when the subject closure device is mounted on the can body in place of the original cover, paint may be dispensed from the can by merely pressing a lever which opens a discharge spout through which paint may be poured without the necessity of first removing the cover from the can body.

Another disadvantage of the conventional cover arrangement is that while the cover remains oil to permit access to the paint, the latter is exposed to the atmosphere thereby resulting in solvent evaporation, contamination and other deleterious efiects. These difliculties are practically eliminated by the present invention which prevents atmospheric exposure of the paint except for a small amount of air which is permitted to enter the can during dispensing of the paint so as to make up for the lost volume of dispensed paint.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a closure device of the character described a mixing means for stirring the paint or other contents of the can without adversely affecting the protective functions noted above. More specifically, the subject closure device is provided with a novel sealing arrangement for the bearing of the rotatable stirring shaft so as to seal off the interior of the can from the atmosphere while permitting free rotation of the shaft to which the stirring impeller is attached.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel arrangement for removably securing the closure device to the can body by a simple manual operation and which will be economical in manufacture and convenient in use.

Although the subject to closure device may be frequently described herein as applied to a paint can, it is to be understood that the device is applicable to other types of fluid containers having upper open ends.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds or are inherent in the structure described belowj in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the subject closure device mounted in assembled position on a can body with the lower portion of the latter being broken I on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial top planview showing a modified form of securing means;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4-;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 2 and shows the means for venting the can during the paint dispensing operation;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on lirie 7-7 ofjFIG. 1 and shows the construction of the stirring impeller blade; and

F IG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of FIG. 1 and shows the manner of mounting the impeller blade to the shaft.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 11 indicates generally the subject closure device which is shown mounted in assembled relation on the upper open end of a conventional paint can body 12 in place of the usual fiat circular cover that comes with the paint can when purchased. As best seen in FIG. 3, the closure device 11 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed cover portion 13 of circular shape and slightly convex in cross sec tion.

Diametrically disposed on cover portion 13 at the periphery thereof are fixed a pair of securing means 14, 15, which maintain closure device 11 in assembled relation on the upper open end of can body 12. A pouring spout 16 is normally closed by a movable cap 17 which may be moved to an open position by manual operation of a lever 18. A mixing shaft 19 is rotatably and slidably mounted in a bearing 20 fixed to cover portion 13 (FIG. 3) and the bearing 20 is hermetically sealed by a sealing arrangement indicated generally at 21.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the paint can body 12 is conventional in construction and comprises a bottom wall 22, a vertical cylindrical wall 23 having an upper edge rolled into a bead or lip 24 (FIG. 3) extending peripherally around the upper edge of body 12 and formed integral with an inwardly extending annular flange portion 25 leading to a downwardly extending portion 26 cooperating with a horizontally extending portion 27 and an upwardly extending portion 28 to form the usual U-shaped channel extending around the upper open end of the can body 12. The peripheral edge of cover portion 13 is provided with a downwardly extending integral flange 29 which projects into the U-shaped channel and rests upon the horizontal wall portion 27 of the latter.

Pouring spent 16 comprises a pair of vertical sidewalls 31, 32 extending upwardly from a base 33 fixed to cover portion 13. Side walls 31, 32 are joined to an end wall 34 and another inclined end wall 35, all of these walls being joined: by a top wall 36 formed with a discharge orifice 37 communicating with the interior of the spout which in turn communicates with an opening 38 extending through cover portion 13.

Discharge orifice 37 of spout 16 is normally closed by cap 17. The latter is provided with an upstanding pin 39 Which projects upwardly through an elongated slot 50 formed in arm 41 of lever 18. The latter comprises a second arm 42 of channel-shape in cross-section and having a lower horizontal portion 43 and an upper horizontal portion 44 joined by an intermediate vertical web portion 45. Arm 41 is formed integral with the upper horizontal portion 44. Lever 18 is rotatably mounted on'a pivot pin 46 secured to cover portion 13. The outer end of lever 18 is provided with a curved portion 47 adapted to be manually gripped for operation of lever 13.

A spring 48 is coiled around pivot pin 46 and has an upwardly extending end portion 439 in engagement with arm 41 of lever 18 so as to bias the latter in a counter-' clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby moving cap 17 toward its closed position shown in said figure. Cap 17 is provided along opposite lateral edges with a pair of downwardly extending flanges 17a, 17b whereby cap 17 is guided for reciprocal slidingmovement along wise position.

the air to'take the placeof the displaced paint.

"means indicated generally by, the reference numeral 52 and comprising a vertical abutment surface 53' adapted to be engaged by strip 50 when lever, 18 has been angularly displaced by spring 48 to itsextreme counter-clock- Abutment means 52 is provided with a vent means for allowing atmospheric air to'enter the interior of the can as the paint is being poured out. of spout 16jso as to allow This vent means comprises an air conduit54 extending up- 85; Continued rotation of thumb-screw 84 will then urge the clamping members 67 to pivot about pin 66 in a direction to cause clamping flanges 75 to move radially inwardly and upwardly so as to tighten their gripping engagement with the surface of can wall 23 and bead '24,"thereby securing closeure device 11' to can body 12.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modified form of securing means indicated generally by the reference numeral 100 and comprising abracket 101 having a pair of vertically upstanding ears 102, 103 receiving therebetween the rear portion of a link member 104. The latter is pivotally mounted to ears 102, 103 by a pin 105. Link member '104 is provided with a downwardly-facing opening 107 housing a compression coil spring 108 which engages bracket 101 and urges link member 104 in a-clockwise direction about pivot pm 105 as viewed in FIG. 5.

. A clamping member 109, similar in shape and function wardly from the lower surface 55 of'cover portion 13 and then horizontally as at'56 so as to communicate with the vertical abutment surface 53. As shown in FIG. 6,

, hermetically seal 011 the portion 56 of air conduit 54.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the two securing means 14, 15 for removably securing the subject device'- to the upper open end of a paint can are identical and web portion 58 and extending-upwardly therefrom jalong opposite edgesof the latter area pair of vertical portions 60, 61 each having an upper edge curving upwardly and outwardly as at 62 so as to form a. pair of. spaced vertito clamping .member 67 of the previously described modification, is provided with horizontally-spaced portions receiving therebetween the forward end of link member 104 pivotally connectedtosaid portionsby a pivot pin 110. It will be noted that pivot pm 110 is located at the intermediate portion of clamping member 7 At the forward or radially inward end of clamping member 109 is another pivot pin 111 which pivotally' connects said forward end to the radially inward portion of a locking element indicated generally by the reference numeral 112.

Locking element 112 is of U-shape in crosssection and comprises an intermediate web portion 113 which extends vertically at 113a and horizontally at '113b.

' Formed integral with web'portion 113 are flange portions coverportion 13 by screws 59. Formed integralywith cally extending'ears 63, 64 having aligned vertical slots 65 extending therethrough for receiving the oppositeends of a horizontally extending pivot 'pin 66. Y

The edges of portions 69, extend downwardly at 71,1.

then downwardly and outwardly at.72, then vertically 114 'which- .have enlarged integral ear's' 115, extending downwardly at the radially" innermost end of locking element 112. Pivot pin 111 extends through suitable aligned openings formed in ears. 115 andvalso; in the Y vertical walls of clamping member 109 so as to pivotally "connect the=-;inner end of clamping member 109 to the inner endoflocking element 112..

r 40 Pivotally mounted of the intermediate portionon pin 66, is a clamping member indicated generally byjthe The lower edges of -ears,115. are arcuate at 116 and flattened at 117 so as to form cam surfaces'for a purpose to be described below. During manual swinging movement of locking element112 about pivot pin 111, the

I cam surfaces or edges 116, 117 engage-respectively the upper surfaces of a'pair of resilient steel strips 118, 119

' having their opposite ends resting upon raised lugs 120, 121 so that the intermediate portions of strips 118, 119 are downwardly at 73, a'nd then horizontally inwardly at 74 to tenninate withcircumferentially extending integral flanges 75 adapted to grippingly engage the exterior wall surface of the can and also the bead orlflange 24 of the latter, as best been in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Extending between said portions 69, 70jand pivctally mounted thereto by aligned pivot pins 80,811-is'an element is provided with a concave recess for receiving andi."

engaging the lower end of'threaded shaft'83. A retaining wire has vertical portions 91 extending down-f wardly through. suitable openings in the outer opposite ends of 'piv'ot pin 66 so as to prevent the latter from the parts in proper assembled relation. The'lower-ends of the wire may be bent as at 92 to preventjthe portions sliding laterally out of slots 65 andthereby to maintain spaced from the upper surface of cover portion 13 and may flex inwardly when subjected to, pressure ,by cam surfaces'116, 117.' A retaining wire 122 has a radially outer end extending'through a projecting end-portion of pivot pin 110 and a radially inner end extending through an opening formed in thep rojecting endportion of pivot pin 111 so as toretain pins'110, 111 against longitudinal :55 N V v movement. v a

Spring .108 normally biases link-'member .116 in. a clockwise direction as'viewedin FIG. 5 sov asto' normally urge clamping member 109 in a direction toward thecan b y i In'gorder to operate securing means, f'sothat itywill secure closure device 11..tothe can .body,locking element 112 is;firstswung upwardly and inwardly so that portion 113 "is in a horizontally disposedposition rather. than the verticalqposition shown inkthle drawing. This permits clamping member 109 tojcl'e'ar ican bead 24 and then to I movedown past the latter .so as-to'be in a position to upper. open end ofapaint can body 12 or similar con tainer, thumb-screws 84 are first rotated inia direction to raise themsli'ghtly, The device 11 is then mounted on can body .12 Lwhileclamping members 67 are-held out-' .wardly to clear-the can body head 24. Thumb-screws 84am then rotated the opposite direction and; are lowered until their lower ends engageco ca e-reesS I engage the side wall of tliecan body; This engagement will occur when locking. element 112 isswung outwardly and "downwardly toward ,the locking position shown in FIG. 5. As locking element 112 is swung in. a clockwise direction about pivot pin lll; decimation of the latter in conjunction-with the location of pivot pin 110, 'andg-the engagement of camv surfaces 1 16,11=7with the spring strips .118, 119 will result in a toggleg action causing cla'mping' member 109 to be moved inwardly and 'upwardly so asto grippingly engage the wall surface of the can body as well as bead 24 of the latter and thereby secure closure device 11 to the can body. 7

As noted above, the mixing means comprises a vertical shaft 19 rotatably and vertically slidably mounted within bearing 20 fixed at the center of cover portion 13. Bearing 20 is provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending cylindrical portion 130 partially projecting into a cylindrical sleeve 131 having an integral horizontal portion 132 formed with an opening 133 through which extends the shaft 19. Sleeve 131 is filled with packing material 134 which is pressed against the lower horizontal surface 135 of cylindrical portion 130 by a compression spring 136 surrounding shaft 19.

The lower end of spring 136 abuts against a collar 137 fixed to shaft 19 by a set screw 138. The upper end of spring 136 abuts against the horizontal portion 132 of sleeve 131 so as to urge the latter upwardly toward bearing 20. This forces the packing material 134 into tight engagement with the lower surface 135 so as to effect a hermetic seal of bearing 20 while permitting shaft 19 to rotate and slide vertically therein.

The upper end of shaft 19 is provided with a conventional clutch element 140 secured thereto by a set screw 141 and adapted to be drivingly engaged by a conventional power tool (not shown) so as to rotate shaft 19 and thereby mix the paint or other fluid contents of the can. For this purpose, there is provided at the lower end of shaft 19 a horizontally disposed stirring blade 142 comprising, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8, a horizontally extending strip 144 of felt or similar material sandwiched between a pair of metal strips 145, 146. The sandwich is maintained in assembled relation by screws 147 extending through strips 144, 145, 146 and having nuts 148 secured to said screws. Stirring blade 142 is secured to the lower end of shaft 19in the following manner. As shown in FIG. 8. metal strip 146 bulges outwardly at 149 at its central portion so as to receive the lower end of shaft 19 which extends between the bulging portion 149 and the oppositely bulging portion 1500f the intermediate felt strip 144. A pair of screws 151 extend through suitable openings provided in metal strip 146 and are in threaded engagement with shaft 19 so as to maintain blade 142 securely attached to shaft 19. v

Secured to the intermediate portion of shaft 19 by a pair of screws 152 is an angularly-inclined stirring blade indicated generally at 153 and comprising a single strip of metal having its lower end secured to the horizontal metal strip 145 of stirring blade 142 by means of a rivet 154.

It will be seen that the lower horizontal edge of felt strip 144 rests upon the bottom wall 22 of can body 12. The bottomwall 22 engages felt strip 144 so as to urge shaft 19 upwardly against the biasing action of spring 136.

This enables spring 136 to urge sleeve 131 upwardly toward bearing 2% and thereby maintains packing material 134 in tight sealing engagement with the bottom surface 135 of bearing 20 when the closure device 11 is in assembled relation on can body 12. Thus slight variations in the height of can body 12 due to manufacturing tolerances are taken up by spring 136. The upper portion of bearing 20 may be externally threaded for attachment to a conventional power tool for drivingly rotating shaft 19.

Arm 42 of lever 18 is provided with a concave recess 42a adapted to engagingly receive the radially innermost surfaces of elements 70, 82 of securing means 15, when I lever"18 is displaced in a clockwise direction, so as to limit the angular displacement of lever 18 in said direction. It will thus be seen that either securing means or securing means 100 serves as a second abutment means which, cooperating with the first abutment means 52,

limits the swinging movement of lever 18 to predetermined extreme positions wherein cap 17 will be located in open and closed positions respectively. I

invention is adapted to dispense either a drop of paint or a whole gallon in less than a minute and to maintain the paint in condition for immediate use so as to avoid waste of material and time.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings and described hereinabove are merely illustrative of several of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as delineated in the appended claims, and that the claims are to be construed as broadly as permitted by the prior art.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having one end in communication with said opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a cap movably mounted to either a closed position covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said dis charge orifice, a manually-operable member movably mounted on said cover portion, means connecting said member to said cap for moving the latter toward said closed position in response to movement of said member in one direction and for moving the cap to said open position in response to movement of said member in the opposite direction, spring means engaging said manually operated member urging said cap toward said ciosed position, vent means including an air conduit extending through said cover portion, means controlled by said manually operated member for closing said air conduit when said cap is located in said closed position and for completely unsealing said conduit immediately upon movement of said cap into said open position, said spring means being arranged for pressing said air conduit closing means against said vent means for sealing said conduit and mixing means rotatably mounted to said cover portion for stirring paint or other liquid within said container.

2. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, said securing means comprising a bracket secured to said cover portion, a clamping member having adownwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said clamping member to said bracket, clamping means at the lower end of said downwardlyextending portion for grippingly engaging the wall and upper lip of said container in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member, manually-actuable means pivotally connected to said clamping member at the opposite end thereof and engageable with said bracket for pivoting said clamping member, said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having an ing through said threaded aperture-in engagement there with, and means on said bracket inthe path offmovement of said screw for engaging'one end 'of said mew,

,4. A'device as recited in claim 2, wherein said manually-actuable means comprises a locking element pivotally connected to said opposite end of the clamping member, said locking element having a handle portion and cam means ienga'geable with said bracket for-pivoting said clamping memberfin response to manual actuation of said handle portion. i I V 5.'-A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to'extend' over; an open upper end of 'said container,;means on said cover. portion for removably secur ing the latter to said containen said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having one end in'communication with said opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a cap movably mounted to either a closed position covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said discharge orifice, a manually-operable member .movably mounted on said cover portion, means connecting said member to said cap for moving the latter toward said closed position in response to movement of said member in one'dirlection and for moving the cap to said open position in re sponse to movement of said member in the opposite direc-' tion, spring means urging said cap toward said closed position, vent means including an 'air conduit extending through said cover portion, means for 'sealing'said 'air' conduit when said cap .islocatedin said closed position, and mixing means rotatably mounted to said cover "portion for'stirringrpaint or other liquid within said container, said mixing means comprising a bearing secured to said cover portion, a vertical shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a stirring device at the lower end of said shaft, means on said stirring device forn-rging said shaft upwardly in response to engagement withfthe bottom of said container, spring support means secured tosaid shaft below said bearing, a packing sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and having packing material therein, and a spring extending between said spring support means and said packing sleeve for urging the latter upwardly into sealing engagement with said bearing.

6. Aqclosure. device adapted sto'cover paint cans and othercontainers, said, device comprising acover portion adapted to extend over anropen upper end of said con-- tainer, means on said coverportionfor removably secnr-' ing the latter-to said, container, said. cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having'one end Y in communication with saidopening and having ;a 'dis charge orifice in the, opposite end thereof, a cap, means slidably mounted said, cap for reciprocal movement :0-

either a closed position'covering'said discharge orificeror an open position exposing said discharge orifice, a lever pivotally mounted tofs'aid cover portion for rangular dis placement about avertical axis-means pivotally connect- 7 ing said lever to saidcap, aventopening in said cover portion, means on said lever for covering saidrvent opening in said closedposition 'of said cap' and for' completely uncovering said vent ope ning immediately upon movement of said cap into said ope'n. position andlspring means urging said cap toward said closed'pos-ition.

7. A closure device adapted I to cove'r paint cans and I other"containers,;said device comprisingfatcover portion adapted to extend over an open-upper endjofisaidfco tain'enmeans on said cover portionforremovably-securing the latter. to said container, said securing means comprising a bracket secured to said coverportion, a clamp,- ing member having a. downwardly-extending portion at one end, thereof, means, pivotally connecting an intermediate' portion of saidclamping member to said'bracket, clampingmeansi at" the lower end of saiddownwardly extending portion for 'grippingly engaging the wall and upper. lip of saidcontainer in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member, manually-actuable means pivotally connected to said clamping member at the opposite, enduthereof and engageablewith said bracket for pivot-ing said clamping member, said cover portion having an opening therethrough a pouring spout having an end in communication withsaid opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a cap :movably mounted to either a closed position covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said discharge.

located in said' abutment .means, said sealing means b t ng locatedt -on said;manu ally operable member and seal ingly engaging said air conduit inlet when 'saidcap ,is in its closed position andra second abutment'means located on said member for engaging saidsecuring means to limit movement-of-said member in said opposite direction."

I 8. A closure device adapted'tocoverpaintcans and other containers, said device comprising atcover portion adaptedto-extend over an open upper end of'said co ntainer,' ,means on saidcoverportion for removably securing the latter to said containen said coverportion having an opening therethrough,za pouringspout haying one'end in communication withg saidopening andihaving a-discharge orifice inthejopposite end thereof, a cap, means" slidably mounting" said cap for reciprocal; movement'to either a closed positioncovering saiddischangeorifice or an-iopen positionexposing said discharge orifice, a lever pivotally 'mountedtosaid cover portion for angular displacement abouta verti cal axis, means piv otally corb necting said lever to said cap, spring meanspivotally biasing said lever in a direction to move said cap toward its closed position, and-coacting interengaging means on said lever; and said securing means for limiting the. pivotal movement of said lever in said opposite direction to an extent corresponding touthe attainment by saidcap of its 1 open position, said coverhaving-avent, means'controlled by saidlever to close said vent, and said spring means being arranged to resilientlypress said closing means to seal said vent in closing posit ion.

9. A closure'device adapted to cover paint ,cans and i other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted, to extend over an open upperend, of saidcontainer, means on said cover-portion for removably securingithe latter to saidl container, said cover portion having an opening'therethrough, a pouring spoutliaving one end ingcomm'unication" with said .opening-' andhaving a discharge iorificeijiniihe op'posite'end thereof, a cap, means slidablyj m )uriti ig said for .reciprocal, movement 19 either a closed position covering said discharge orificel'or' an open position exposing said discharge orifice; a lever pivotally mounted, tosaidrcoVer posit'ion for, angular dis placementabqut'a vert' a1 axp ing saidlleverto s idm spring means pivot ally biasing said: lever ig "direction" to-.;mo,ve, said cap towardpi ts closed position, said .securin means comprisinga hracket s; means pivotally connect secured to said cover portion, a clamping member having a downwardly extending portion at one end thereof, means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said clamping member to said bracket, clamping means at the lower end of said downwardly extending portion for grippingly engaging the wall and upper lip of said container in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member in a predetermined direction, and manually-actuable means pivotally connected to said clamping member at the opposite end thereof and engageable with said bracket for pivoting said clamping member in said predetermined direction.

10. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having one end in communication with said opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a cap, means slidably mounting said cap for reciprocal movement to either a closed position covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said discharge orifice, a lever pivotally mounted to said cover position for angular displacement about a vertical axis, means pivotally connecting said lever to said cap, spring means pivotally biasing said lever in a direction to move said cap toward its closed position, said securing means comprising a bracket secured to said cover portion, a clamping member having a downwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said clamping member to said bracket, clamping means at the lower end of said downwardly-extending portion for grippingly engaging'the wall and upper lip of said container in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member in a predetermined direction, and manually-actuable means pivotally connected to said clamping member at the opposite end thereof and engageable with said bracket for pivoting said clamping member in said predetermined direction, and mixing means rotatably mounted to said cover portion for stirring paint or other liquid within said container, said mixing means comprising a bearing secured to said cover portion, a vertical shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a stirring device at the lower end of said shaft, means on said stirring device for urging said shaft upwardly in response to engagement with the bottom of said container, spring support means secured to said shaft below said bearing, a packing sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and having packing material therein, and a spring extending between said spring support means and said packing sleeve for urging the latter upwardly into sealing engagement with said bearing.

11. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, said securing means comprising a bracket fixed to said cover portion, a clamping member having a downwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said clamping member to said bracket, clamping means at the lower end of said downwardly-extending portion for grippingly engaging the wall of said container in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member, manually-actuable means pivotally connected to said clamping member at the opposite end thereof and engageable with said bracket for pivotally moving said clamping member, and means mounted on said cover portion for dispensing paint or other liquid from said container.

12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein said manually-actuable means comprises an element pivotally connected to said clamping member and having a threaded aperture therethrough, a manually-rotatable screw extending through said threaded aperture in engagement therewith, and means on said bracket for engaging one end of said screw.

13. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein said manually-actuable means comprises a locking element pivotally connected to said opposite end of the clamping member, said locking element having a handle portion, and cam means engageable with said bracket for pivoting said clamping member in response to manual actuation of said handle portion.

14. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers and for stirring the contents of the container while the latter remains covered, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, means on said cover portion for dispensing the contents of the container, and mixing means rotatably mounted to said cover portion for stirring paint or other'liquid within said container, said mixing means comprising a bearing secured to said cover portion, a vertical shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in said bearing, a stirring device at the lower end of said shaft, means on said stirring device for engagement with the bottom of said container, spring support means secured to said shaft below said bearing,

a packing sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and having packing material therein, and a spring extending between said spring support means and said packing sleeve for urgingthe latter upwardly into sealing engagement with said bearing. I

15. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portain for removably securing the latter to said container, said securing means comprising a clamping member having a downwardly extending part and a transverse part, at the upper end of said downwardly extending part, and extending inwardly from said upper end and terminating inwardly of the peripheral edge of said cover portion above the latter, inwardly extending clamping means at the lower end of said downwardly extending part for grippingly engaging the wall of said container in response to pivotal movement of said clamping member, means mounting said clamping member for pivotal movement relative to said cover portion, manually-actuable means mounted for movement on said transverse part at a position inwardly of said peripheral edge of said cover portion and at a position inwardly of said clamping member mounting means, said manually-actuable means being positioned for said movement on said transverse part for applying a force against said cover portion to pivotally move said clamping movement into clamping posit-ion, and means provided on said cover portion for dispensing paint or other liquid from said container.

16. A closure device adapted to cover paint cans and other containers, said device comprising a circular cover portion adapted to extend over an open upper end of said container, means on said cover portion for removably securing the latter to said container, said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spout having one end in communication with said opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a cap movably mounted to either a closed position covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said discharge orifice, a manually-operable member movably mounted on said cover portion, means connecting said member to said cap for moving the latter toward said closed position in response to movement of said for closing said air conduitwhen said cap is located in said closed position and for completely unsealing said conduit immediately u-ponvmovement of said cap into said open position, said sealing means comprising a substantially vertical member movable in a substantial horizontal plane between a position adjacent said vent opening for closing the latter and a position spaced from said vent opening for uncovering the latter, and means connecting said sealing means to said manuallyoperable member for operating said sealing means by operation of said manually-operable member, said spring acting on said vertical member to seal said air conduit.

17. A closuredevice adapted to cover paint cans and other containers andfor stirring the contents of the cont-ainer while the latter remains covered, said device comprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an open 1 upper end of said lcontainer, means on sa'id cover portion for removablysecuring the latter to said container, means on said cover portion for dispensing the contents of the container, and mixing means rotatably -mounted to said cover portion f ortstirring paint or other liquid within said container, said mixing means comprising a bearing secured to said cover portion, a vertical shaft rotatablya'. and sl-idably mounted in said bearing, a stirring device at the lower end of said shaft, resilient means on said stirring devicepositioned to resiliently engage the 1 I V bottom of said can to urge said shaftupwardly, spring r 12 19.A closure'device adapted to cover, paint cans and other containers, said devicecomprising a cover portion adapted to extend over an'ope'n upper end of said container, means on said cover'portion for removably securing the'latter to said container, said cover portion having an opening therethrough, a pouring spouthaving one end in communication with said opening and having a discharge orifice in the opposite end thereof, a'cap, means slidably mounting said cap forrec-iprocal movement to either a closed positionp covering said discharge orifice or an open position exposing said discharge orifice, a'lever pivotally mounted to said cover'portion for angular .displacement about a vertical axis, means pivotally connecting said lever to said cap, spring means engaging said lever for pivotally biasing said lever in a direction to move said cap toward its closed positiomvent means extending upwardly from said cover 'por'tion and ,having a vent passage'extending therethrough, and means onsaid lever support means secured to said shaft gbelow said bearing,

a packing sleeve mounted on said shaft and surrounding the l-atter and having packing material therein, said sleeve being positioned below said bearingyvith said packing material in engagement with the bottom of said bearing,

and a coil compression spring surrounding said, shaft and positioned with one. end of said spring in engagement with the bottomoffsaid sleeve and with the opposite end 01:

said spring in engagement with said springsupport "means. 18. A closure device'as defined in claim I17, and an said/spring support means'and extending upwardly and downwardly from itsconnection to said. shaft;

'35 inclinedstirring member connected to said shaft below 7 for engaging, said vent means for limiting the' movement'of said lever in said, direction to 'rnove;said cap toward its closed position, said, sprin'gjmeansbeing arranged to'resiliently 'press said vent-engaging means,-

to seal said vent means.

I References :bytlieExaminer I UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,096,956 5/14 Sailor 222-569 1,641,681 9/27 KircheL-f 1 7 2,154,346 4/39 .Mills 2212-5 1X "2 5x910 8/56 ONeill' 259'-67 x 3,021,11 2/62, Dedoes 222-361 x 3, 41,o5 2- 6/62 Dedoes V222 4s4 x 1 l l FOREIGN PATENTS 1,070,380. 2/54 France.

LQ UI S D EMBO, Primary Examiner.

pivotal 

6. A CLOSURE DEVICE ADAPTED TO COVER PAINT CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A COVER PORTION ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER AN OPEN UPPER END OF SAID CONTAINER, MEANS ON SAID COVER PORTION FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE LATTER TO SAID CONTAINER, SAID COVER PORTION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, A POURING SPOUT HAVING ONE END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING AND HAVING A DISCHARGE ORIFICE IN THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, A CAP, MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED SAID CAP FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TO EITHER A CLOSED POSITION COVERING SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE OR AN OPEN POSITION EXPOSING SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID COVER PORTION FOR ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID LEVER TO SAID CAP, A VENT OPENING IN SAID COVER PORTION, MEANS ON SAID LEVER FOR COVERING SAID VENT OPENING IN SAID CLOSED POSITION OF SAID CAP AND FOR COMPLETELY UNCOVERING SAID VENT OPENING IMMEDIATELY UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID CAP INTO SAID OPEN POSITION AND SPRING MEANS URGING SAID CAP TOWARD SAID CLOSED POSITION. 